Avernus
During conflict between Devil and Demon, Avernus was the most likely beachhead for any attack by Demon kind, where the Devil would defend - it was and is the primary battleground of the Blood Wars: legions of devils march across its plains in continual readiness to repel the hordes of Demon invaders that might soon sail the River Styx into the layer.
Avernus is the first layer of The Hells.
+ a blasted hell-scape with rivers of lava, barren hills, terrible battlefield, and low, rocky mountains as far as the eye can see.
RULER = Zariel - commander of the diabolical armies in the Blood War - Zariel is a fallen angel who had been appointed to her archdukedom by Asmodeus.
GENERAL = Bel - under the command of Zariel
The Bronze Citadel
A huge fortress-city dozens of square miles in extent and ringed by twelve heavily defended walls. It houses hundreds of thousands of lesser Devil troops and war machines. It is constantly being added to in the form of new fortifications against attacks. When Bel was The Lord of the First, he reigned from there.The Great Avernus Road
A massive road leading from Bel's fortress for the purpose of transporting large armies of devils swiftly to battle.The Chamber of Torment
If a Devil, or Demon from The Abyss, find themselves inside the cool chamber, they are aware they have displeased their Master. People who have died and been sent to The Hells for punishment rarely find themselves in The Chamber of Torment. Only those who are nasty and dislike other people, come to be in such a place.The Pillar of Skulls
A hideous landmark of trophy-skulls of those killed in the Blood Wars. It reached a height of more than 1 mile (1.6 kilometres). It is very close to the entrance to the second layer, Dis.THE RIVER STYX
The Styx, also known as the River of Blood, is a cross-planar river that linked the topmost layers of The Hells, Acheron plane: The Infernal Battlefield , and The Plane of Void . It is oily, greasy and foul, covered in bubbles and debris. Those who touch or drink from the River Styx risk completely forgetting their past lives - temporarily or permanently.The water flowing on the River Styx has a foreboding dark colour resembling dark wine that constantly exuded a putrid odour. The river is so deep and swift, a torrent that should not risk be forded. The water at the surface moves slowly and sluggishly, hiding a dangerous subsurface current that can quickly pull boats and swimmers to the bottom.
The huge and stinking river flows deep and fast - making it uncrossable for most people and other creatures - even those who do dare, are likely to be attacked by the brownish green coloured Jungle Fish - 'dots' of luminescent on the female fish.
Its banks are lined with the rotting remnants of battles fought throughout its course, and those drowned trying to cross.
The silt at the bottom of the Styx is rumoured to contain the memories of all the souls who have lost their identities to the river. The shadar-kai (Shadow Elves) are always interested in obtaining the material from adventurers, and who sometimes seek to collect vials of the sediment, to take back to The Shadowfell , in order to offer it to The Raven Queen in exchange for a boon or divine favour.
The shallow headwaters, in The Hells, of the River Styx are inhabited by giant versions of freshwater wildlife, such as quippers, eels, lampreys, snails, and crustaceans. The river is not only inhabited by Jungle Fish , but also Styx Wyverns , who tend to build lairs along its banks, and stygian linnorms.
Travelers who must cross are advised to only do so in The Hells, and to use the boatman Charon, or his servants, the merrenoloths, to navigate the river. (If called via spells such as summon monster VIII, holy word, or blasphemy, a Merrenoloth typically answer the call within seconds.) They charge a fee of 100 gp in advance per passenger and never carry cargo.
Despite being the most reliable navigators of the river, they have been known to sometimes lead their passengers to traps laid out by another paying party. It is advisable to increase the payment to a merrenoloth to avoid such a terrible inconvenience. Baatezu often employ osyluths as boatmen.
In addition to these Fiend , some petitioners and, more rarely, select mortals work ferrying creatures across.
Whatever they are, these sinister ferrymen are adept in navigating the chaotic currents and eddies. They are willing to take travelers between the planes in which the Styx flows, but for a price. When traversed by competent navigators, any point along the banks of the Styx can be reached within a single day.
Once across they are likely to face the hound Mishap with two massive heads - from the litter of Kerberos a three headed Hound from the Shadowfell and Desirosa a Phase Hound from The Hells. Mishap has black and tan fur, and a mane of snakes can phase into and out of the various levels of The Hells. Mishap's imposing size, powerful, muscular build, vicious, intense, focused eyes, and a perpetual scowl make him intimidating. He has a larger head in proportion to his body size, and larger canine teeth than most hounds.
It is Mishap who helps guard The Hells from intruders.
Geography
Avernus is the first and largest layer of the nine layers of The Hells, and one of the most traditionally infernal - a blasted hellscape in the most literal sense filled with rivers of lava, barren hills, and low, rocky mountains as far as the eye can see.
To scale the mountains or move too quickly is unwise at best, since obsidian, quartz, and other crystals jut from the jagged land, cutting clothes and slicing flesh. The ubiquitous presence of rocks and boulders, some of which seem to resemble tormented faces and shapes of creatures, renders the terrain extremely treacherous and difficult to cross at any pace quicker than a fast walk. Rubble covers the vast, ashen plains of Avernus's charred wastes.
Fireballs race across the dark sky of Avernus, seemingly at random (but on closer inspection actively targeted motion), and fall to the scorched earth, leaving smoking impact craters and burnt corpses in their wake. Travelers need to find shelter, such as a hopefully empty building or an abandoned cave - lest they inevitably be struck. The acrid air is clouded with pumice and volcanic ash from the foul fumaroles and blighted with swarms of flies and cockroaches. Roiling clouds of red and black flickered with orange flames, however the atmosphere has neither sun nor stars, only a constant, blood-red light that lingers above.
Blood, as it happens, is the leitmotif of Avernus; it is where the River of Blood runs through The Hells, collecting rivulets from every gulch, stream, and pool, from the victims of millions of battles. Practically all of the plane is bathed in a coat of blood and covered with bones and gore, whether devilish, demonic, or otherwise, acting as a grim reminder of the regular bloodshed that marks an average day in Avernus.
Localized Phenomena
History
The ruler of Avernus was titled The Lord of the First Hell.
Avernus, the first layer of The Hells, was ruled by Bel, a Pit Fiend general from Dis, for an eon.
Then, Zariel held the rule for a long time, until then had been betrayed by Bel. Only for Zariel to in return supplanted Bel.
On Zariel a Solar warrior from Celestia transformation into an Archdevil, Bel was demoted by Asmodeus and made to be Zariel's advisor - the new ruler, known as "The ArchDuch".
Zariel resides in a soaring basalt citadel.
When he ruled, Bel dwelled in his own fortress at the center of the Bronze Citadel.
* Zariel 's transformation to an Archdevil happened during the brutish Warlock Wars (also the beginning of The Blood Wars between Demon and Devil).
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